Author Topic: 1889 diary p26 Bowkers  (Read 2097 times)

Offline Deskman

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1889 diary p26 Bowkers
« on: Tuesday 06 February 18 15:05 GMT (UK) »
Any help with the xxxs, text and related text here is much appreciated.

The bold text is thanks to help here.

"Boy wants it altered, compares very favourably with Mrs Bowkers
  vinegary  sour kind of snaps at poor old B. I think
old B thinks I’m rather upsetting his household getting xxxxxx
 to my rooms & out to football so often, so for the
"

Fine folks here are brightening my transcription from dark uncertainty to wonder. Thank you.

Offline bbart

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Re: 1889 diary p26 Bowkers
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 06 February 18 18:23 GMT (UK) »
 For xxxx sour   my eyes read it as vinegar sour  ???

Offline Deskman

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Re: 1889 diary p26 Bowkers
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 06 February 18 19:32 GMT (UK) »
That's sparkling observation bbart. Thank you.

That makes total sense as these lines from the diary show; "Still likes & appreciates Old B. tho’ like me and everybody else can’t bear Mrs B." and "Mrs B, who for all her sanctity I believe has a horribly sour temper, she got quite in a fine wax last night because Old B. didn’t answer her at all about a lamp."

 

Offline bbart

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Re: 1889 diary p26 Bowkers
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 06 February 18 21:27 GMT (UK) »
Hi again,

I'm starting to think that snaps is correct, and what he is meaning is that the boy, much like Mrs. Bowker, talks to Mr B by snapping in a sour vinegary way.

As to the getting xxxxx part, take another look at "getting".  To me, it looks like an L and a T, so perhaps he reversed the letters, and meant "greatly", as in, he is upsetting the house greatly, by xxxxx = stalling in his room and going out often to football. Perhaps he hid out in his room and went out often, when they expected him to contribute to household chores?

By the sounds of Mrs. Bowker, I think I would hide out in my room too!

Anyways, food for thought!


Offline Karen McDonald

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Re: 1889 diary p26 Bowkers
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 06 February 18 22:06 GMT (UK) »
I think you have a point, bbart! It could well be "greatly".
The word after it is bugging me. As we know, his handwriting often leaves a lot to be desired, but somehow it's not a typical "s" at the beginning, even by his standards. And what's all the squiggling at the end?  ???

As regards the first section, I think I see:
Boy wants it altered, compares very favourably with Mrs Bowkers
vinegary sour kind of snaps at poor old B.

Just my two penn'th...  :)

Karen
McDonald MacDonald M'Donald McGregor MacGregor M'Gregor Twilley Wells Fentiman Carrington Rowe Needham Mitchell Mackie Collingwood Fuller Maides Shilton Hagon Budd

Offline bbart

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Re: 1889 diary p26 Bowkers
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 06 February 18 22:41 GMT (UK) »
As we know, his handwriting often leaves a lot to be desired, but somehow it's not a typical "s" at the beginning, even by his standards. And what's all the squiggling at the end?  ???

Karen, do you think perhaps, in regards to the S, that he first wrote a small s, then added a line to make a capital?  ???  It does look odd!
I figured the squiggle at the end was from him trying to fit the word in at the edge of the paper, although I can't actually tell how much more room there was.
The word bugs me as well, as if it is "stalling", he should be stalling "in" his room, not "to" his room, in today's language.  Who knows what it meant back then!

This fellow's writing is difficult, as he is so inconsistent with how he makes letters, lack of punctuation, etc.  I suppose he was just jotting notes quickly at the end of the day, not knowing many years later, poor Deskman would be having to decipher it!

Offline Deskman

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Re: 1889 diary p26 Bowkers
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday 06 February 18 22:55 GMT (UK) »
Dear bbart and Karen McDonald thanks for your thoughtful analysis and suggestions.

It does look like vinegary.

The text may infer that the author is boarding in the house but he is not. His rooms (not room) are at nearby house with another landlady.

The author does not have the excuse of a tight margin, this is one of the most relaxed pages with only 315 words. See pic.

I should make it clear that the Boy wants it altered, is not about the Bowkers. That refers to the Wood household. This text compares Miss Wood with Mrs Bowker.

The text after getting could be a reference in some way to the younger members of the household including those who played football in the same team as the diarist.
Their names include
William E
Ashley H
Constance M
Arthur Gerald
Henry W

Thanks again, Deskman




Offline bbart

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Re: 1889 diary p26 Bowkers
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday 06 February 18 23:29 GMT (UK) »
Deskman, thanks for the clarification; I did think that he lived in the same household.

Do you know if the football team had a name?  Maybe the word we are struggling with is a team name?

Offline Karen McDonald

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Re: 1889 diary p26 Bowkers
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 07 February 18 08:19 GMT (UK) »
Karen, do you think perhaps, in regards to the S, that he first wrote a small s, then added a line to make a capital?  ??? 
The word bugs me as well, as if it is "stalling", he should be stalling "in" his room, not "to" his room, in today's language.  Who knows what it meant back then!

I wondered that about the "s", too. The lack of full stop is nothing unusual for hm.  :)

I see it the same way as you with "stalling", too. The squiggle at the end reminds me of something in one of Deskman's other snippets. I am (supposed to be  ;D) working at the mo, so I'll take a closer look this afternoon.

All very mysterious.                     

Karen
McDonald MacDonald M'Donald McGregor MacGregor M'Gregor Twilley Wells Fentiman Carrington Rowe Needham Mitchell Mackie Collingwood Fuller Maides Shilton Hagon Budd